NYC mayor rips Biden's dig at LaGuardia Airport

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (dih BLAH'-zee-oh) doesn't care for Vice President Joe Biden's criticisms of the city's LaGuardia Airport.

Biden on Thursday likened the airport to "some Third World country" while touting more modern airports in places such as Hong Kong.

De Blasio defended the airport on Friday when asked about Biden's comments. He says the remarks weren't Biden's "finest moment" and calls them "inappropriate." He says that was "not the right way to talk about it."

De Blasio concedes the airport needs upgrades but praises the hard work of its employees. He says he respects Biden but is also a proud New Yorker.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates LaGuardia. It says it's investing $3.6 billion to help give passengers "a world-class terminal."